We hear it all the time. No one seems to understand you. Your situation is different. They don’t understand. Well, we hear you because we are you. We are first responders and first responder families and we’re not alone. If you’re looking for solidarity, this one’s for you.
Solidarity
There are many first responders or former first responders who have felt the same and are driven with that same helper’s attitude to do something about it! In short, they speak out and raise a lantern to the darkness, letting others know that they are not alone. They are speakers, book writers, and podcast hosts, and they’re worth listening to. Some of them are recovering from substance abuse, depression, or suicide attempts. Some are financial experts, counselors, or coaches. And Some are leaders in departments or organizations with goals to change the stigma.
They all have one thing in common: they want you to know they stand in solidarity with you. They are pulling together resources and contacts. Connections are being made and lists of numbers and places to reach out to. People are talking… They are finally talking! The silence is breaking, the quiet is shattered, by the sounds of those who have survived. They want you to survive too!
How to Hear Them
If you haven’t already, do yourself a favor. Listen to some of their podcasts and follow some of the speakers. If you can make an event – such as FRC’s own conference, Healing Through Trauma, at the New Hampshire Fire Academy on November 4th – great! If not, that’s okay because there’s plenty out there you can still hear. Hearing your story from someone else’s side is solidarity like no other. It’s comfort, it’s encouragement, and it’s strength.
Check out this short list, but go ahead and search for more. There’s loads out there!
A Few Good Podcasts
- Answering the Call – First Responders Podcast – Genesis House and the Friends in Recovery Podcast are proud to bring you ‘Answering the Call – The First Responder Podcast.’ Join your hosts ‘Mike the Podfather’ and ‘Jersey Ed’ as they address the real issues in health & wellness for First Responders.
- Between the Lines: Life as a First Responder Family – She’s a police officer. He’s a firefighter. They’ve been First Responders for the better part of 20 years. They’ve made a family together and now, they want to talk about it! We hope you enjoy it! Hosted by Marcia McDermott and John McDermott.
- Changing the Culture – Maine LEO Autumn Clifford focuses on emotional and spiritual wellness and past episodes have covered topics such as resiliency, meditation, and mental health. Having overcome her own battles with injury, depression, and anxiety, Autumn reminds her audience that they wouldn’t go to work without their external Kevlar, so “why would you not put on your internal Kevlar, too?”
- First Responder Friday – First Responder Friday is a live interactive podcast show featuring interviews with first responder leaders from around the country. We talk about mental health, wellness, peer support, PTSD, PTSI, and other related issues first responders face.
- Answering the Call – First Responders Podcast – Genesis House and the Friends in Recovery Podcast are proud to bring you ‘Answering the Call – The First Responder Podcast.’ Join your hosts ‘Mike the Podfather’ and ‘Jersey Ed’ as they address the real issues in health & wellness for First Responders.
- Two Cops One Donut – Not just police, but firefighters, DA’s, nurses, military, ambulance, teachers; front liners. This show is for genuine communication through a long discussion format. This will give a voice to these professions that often go unheard from those that do it.
- FRC’s own podcast! Coming Soon!
For more lists of first responder-focused podcasts, check out this page by Dr. Sasha Kondrashov. He even invites us to send in suggestions to add to the ever-growing list.